Work unloading guide for washing machines



May 16, 1950 c. o. KNOWLTON 2,508,263

WORK UNLOADING GUIDE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1948 N 4 a 5: I: 5 a

M u I? 22 .5 HQ 24 W M F6 INVENTOR CHARLES O. KNOWLTON %4, g WM ATTORNEYS Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT 0F F'I C'E VVQRK UNLOADING GUIDE FOR WASHING MACHINES Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,077

4 Claims. I.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in unloading work from a washing machine, such asis used in laundries or for dry cleaning purposes, and' is an improvement upon that shown, described and claimed in n application for Work unloading guide, Serial Number 32,078, filed of even date herewith by Frank A. Gerlach; to which reference may be had if desirable or necessary.

The work guideof' said' application is in the form of a generally T-shaped apron hinged to the front wall of the washing machine and arranged in operating position torest upon the edges of two adjacent semicircular tubs or work containers standing abreast in front of the washer and thus guide the work being unloaded into the tubs and prevent it from falling to the floor between tubs.

The present invention has for its object to provide improved work guiding means with increased area for catching the work, which is of divided form and capable of use with either one or two containers, which interlocks with the container and thus insures accurate registry of each with the other, and which is of simple form, is strong and durable, may be made and sold at low cost, and is easy to manipul'ate.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing the washing machine cylinder in elevated position ready for unloading, with two containers and the guides therefor in position to receive the work;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the washing machine closed inoperating condition, with one guide raised'and the other lowered; and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation on approximately the line 33, Fig. 2.

The washing machine shown is of a well known type, including a frame or casing it provided with a hinged door or cover I l for the washing chamber in which is mounted the usual work containing drum or cylinder l2. The drum may have one or several compartments each closed by a sliding or swinging door l3, two such doors being shown. At the conclusion of the washing operation, by operation of certain lifting mechanism, shown in part at is, the drum may-be; elevated and moved forwardly tothe work discharge position shown in- Fig. 1, ready for discharge of the load of work. When the doors is are open the work falls out of the tub compartments into one or more semi-cylindrical tubs or containers I5, two being shown. These are mounted on wheels or casters fund are adapted to be inserted in mated pairs into the rotating element of an extractor for extracting liquid from the work preparatory to ironing or other finishing operations.

The present invention provides improved means for guiding the work into the tubs or containers. The means here shown for the purpose includes a table or apron member ll of hingeddropleaf form hinged E8 to the front of a sill or guard is mounted below and extending lengthwise of the opening into the washing machine. The apron may be of duplex or double form, long enough to serve for two containers, but preferably is of single or unit form, one apron serving for but one container. That arrangement enables the same apron, without change, to be employed in pairs on the longer washing machine shown or to be applied to a smaller machine designed for use with a single container.

Each apron is made of sheet metal and is of generally u-form with its inner edge 28 curved to the contour of the container opening and preferably reinforced, as by a bent angle iron or flange 2! extending downwardly from its lower surface. This flange entersthe tub opening when the apron is in operating position and thus interlocks the two, insuring maintaining accurately registration of the tub with the apron and locking the tub in place.

The side edges of the apron are flanged upwardly at 2'2 to prevent lateral escape of work.

Below each apron I attach to the machine frame 23 a bumper rail 25 having its cross bar 1 portion curved inwardly so that it facilitates 1 of an. angle member or abutment 23 secured to one of'the legs 23 of the machine When the apron: is fully raised, this angle member en gages the notch and latches the apron its upper position. With the container in place, the

' operator presses on the latch bar to disengage it from the angle member, and permits the apron to move down to its operating position on the container, shown in Fig. 1.

Simple rectangular bumpers 39) are mounted on 3 the washer; one; beneath each sill [9. These cooperate with bumpers 24 to hold the containers out beyond the usual dross rail 3!. Rubber bumper knob 32 on the washer housing prevent banging or damage if the apron is allowed to fall.

When the apron is in operating position, as in Fig. 1, it covers and shields all space otherwise open to the floor within an area twice the square of the radius of the container. Thus it is more efficient as a guard against escape of work from the container chamber. The container is guided to correct position by the bumpers and its interlock with the apron insures accurate registry. The device is also simple, inexpensive and easy to operate.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chambered casing provided with an opening, a work agitating drum provided with a door closed charging opening mounted in the casing for movement through the casing opening into and out of a work unloading position in which the drum extends beyond the front wall of the casing with its charging opening presented downwardly, means for so moving the drum, supporting means extending along the casing below said opening at a level where it lies above the top of a semi-cylindrical tub standing before the machine with its straight diametrical wall presented outwardly therefrom, and apron guard means of shelf form and of generally U-shape having the base portion of its U-form movably mounted upon said supporting means and with the U opening outwardly and adapted to conform to and cover the adjacent space around the curved wall of a tub so standing, said apron guard means being adapted to be adjusted either to an inoperative depending position or to a horizontal position with its inner curved edge portion overlying the upper curved peripheral por tion of the tub for covering said space and thus preventing work which is discharged from the drum from dropping into said space.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chambered casing provided with an opening, a work agitating drum provided with a door closed opening mounted in the casing for movement through the casing opening into and out of a work unloading position in which the drum extends beyond the front wall of the casing with its charging opening presented downwardly, means for so moving the drum, supporting means extending along the casing below said opening at a level where it lies above the top of a semi-cylindrical tub standing before the machine with its straight diametrical wall presented outwardly therefrom, and apron guard means of shelf form and of generally U-shape having the base portion of its U form hinged upon said supporting means and with the U opening outwardly and adapted to conform to and cover the adjacent space around the curved wall of a tub so standing, said apron guard means being adapted to be swung either to an upwardly inclined position to permit insertion of a tub into position beneath it, or to an inoperative depending position, or to a horizontal position with its inner curved edge portion overlying the upper curved peripheral portion of the tub for covering said space and thus preventing work which is discharged from the drum from dropping into said space.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chambered casing provided with an opening, a work agitating drum provided with a door closed opening mounted in the casing for movement through the casing opening into and out of a work unloading position in which the drum extends beyond the front wall of the casing with its charging opening presented downwardly, means for so moving the drum, supporting means extending along the casing below said opening at a level where it lies above the top of a semi-cylindrical tub standing before the machine with its straight diametrical Wall presented outwardly therefrom, pron guard means of shelf form and of generally U-shape having the base portion of it U-form hinged upon said supporting means and with the U opening outwardly and adapted to conform to and cover the adjacent space around the curved wall of a tub so standing, said apron guard means being adapted to be swung either to an upwardly inclined position to permit insertion of a tub into position beneath it, or to an inoperative depending position, or to a horizontal position with its inner curved edge portion overlying the upper curved :peripheral portion of the tub for covering said space and thus preventing work which is discharged from the drum from dropping into said space, and means for releasably latching said guard means in its upwardly inclined position.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chambered casing provided with an opening, a work agitating drum provided with a door closed opening mounted in the casing for movement through the casing opening into and out of a work unloading position in which the drum extends beyond the front wall of the casing with its charging opening presented downwardly, means for so moving the drum, supporting means extending along the casing below said opening at a level where it lies above the top of a semi-cylindrical tub standing abreast before the machine with its straight diametrical wall presented outwardly therefrom, and apron guard means of shelf form and having a semi-circular recess opening outwardly from the machine, said guard means being hinged upon said supporting means and adapted to conform to and cover the adjacent space between and around the curved wall of the tub so standing, said guard means being adapted to be swung either to an inoperative depending position, or to a horizontal position with the curved edge portion overlying the upper curved peripheral portion of the tub for covering said space and thus preventing work which is discharged from the drum from dropping into said space, the curved edge portions of the recesses in said guard means being provided with a downwardly extending flange adapted to enter the opening in the tub top and thus interlock the tub and machine while unloading the latter.

CHARLES O. KNOWLTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 225,202 Wylie Mar. 2, 1880 865,487 Geibel Sept. 10, 1907 905,028 Voss Nov. 24, 1908 928,062 Moletor a- July 13, 1909 2,112,225 Balzer Mar. 29, 1938 2,203,781 Gerlach June 11, 1940 2,296,265 Russell Sept. 22, 1942 

